A trendy and popular district in the heart of the city
Where’s generally the best place to live in Cologne? More than a decade ago, the “in” magazine Prinz declared the Belgian Quarter to be the most liveable neighbourhood in Cologne in terms of high-quality leisure activities, restaurant density and safety. Everything about this district in the heart of Cologne has stayed just as fantastic as it was then.
The Belgian Quarter is known as a young, hip and creative neighbourhood with a warm welcome for everyone — notwithstanding the high rents of its fabulous Art Nouveau buildings. But of course you don’t have to rent a flat there to enjoy the ambience.
Shopping for designer labels, lots of restaurants and nightlife
The Belgian Quarter offers a broad spectrum of shops, boutiques, ateliers, cafés and restaurants — ranging from currywurst stands to gourmet temples. Late-night shopping is also an option - maybe with a drink in your hand from the famous ‘Le Kiosk’.
The Stadtgarten: A green location with a beer garden, a restaurant and concerts
A beer garden in the summertime, a leafy setting for a morning jog or a lazy afternoon in the sun, a venue for musical events and parties, a Christmas market in the winter — the Stadtgarten and its restaurant offer a unique and multifaceted park setting in the Belgian Quarter that is definitely worth a visit.
Chic Belgique, the creative scene, young designers
As you stroll through the Belgian Quarter, you’ll discover lots of small specialty shops, boutiques, galleries, goldsmiths, cafés, bars, pubs and theatres. Many young fashion designers have established their shops here. So have goldsmiths offering unique pieces of handcrafted jewellery. In 2004 the boutiques joined together to establish the interest group Chic Belgique. This has given visitors a space for an exclusive shopping tour that’s off the beaten track defined by Hohe Straße and Schildergasse. Whether you’re looking for shoes, accessories or designer items — everything that is sold here has been carefully selected.
The Belgian Quarter: Location and history
The Belgian Quarter derives its name from its many streets named after Belgian provinces and cities, such as Brussels, Limburg, Lüttich (Liège) and Brabant. There are also a few Dutch cities in between, such as Maastrichter Straße. The ostentatious Art Nouveau houses in the streets around Brüsseler Platz were built in the period starting around 1900.